Daptone Marks a Musical Milestone

May 9, 2025 by David K. Moseder

Daptone Records, a pioneer of Brooklyn’s music renaissance since its launch in 2001, marked a major milestone earlier this month with the 20th anniversary release of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings’ iconic album, Naturally. This specially remastered edition takes the form of a double LP that, in addition to the original 10 tracks, includes never-before-heard instrumental mixes of those tunes as well. The May 4th release date was chosen in tribute to what would have been the 69th birthday of the late Sharon Jones, who has been hailed as “the reigning queen of heavyweight soul.”

Sharon Jones and Lee Fields at Celebrate Brooklyn! /photo by B.L.Howard

Naturally, the second of seven Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings studio albums, was a pivotal moment in Brooklyn music history and a landmark in the world of soul music. The album has sold nearly a quarter of a million copies, spurred in large measure by two hit singles, “How Long Do I Have to Wait” and “This Land is Your Land,” which together garnered several hundred million streams .

The Dap Kings at Celebrate Brooklyn! /photo by B.L.Howard

Buoyed by the band’s success, Daptone helped open doors for many other musicians who have gone on to do remarkable things. Two such artists are Brooklynites Lee Fields, the subject of a 2022 documentary by Brooklyn filmmakers Jessamy Ansary and Joyce Mishaan; and Binky Griptite who, among other accomplishments, hosted his own weekly radio program, The Boogie Down, on WFUV-FM from 2017-2021. Other notable local artists who have recorded for the label include The Budos Band, Charles Bradley and Antibalas.

Among more recent artists following in Sharon Jones’ musical footsteps at Daptone Records is Jalen Ngonda, whose songs have collectively garnered more than one million views on YouTube over the last two years. He has been featured on Late Night with Stephen Colbert, performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra and shared concert bills with the likes of Lauryn Hill and Martha Reeves.

As Daptone expanded its reach beyond Brooklyn It has fostered such artists as The Altons, Junior Scaife and Three Sacred Souls, among others, who all record on Daptone’s new Riverside, CA-based subsidiary label, Penrose, helmed by Bosco Mann (aka Gabriel Roth), who co-founded Daptone with Neal Sugarman.

Artists on our Radar

Ciao Malz: Music With a Storyteller’s Charm

WFUV NY Slice Session- photo by Gus Philippas for FUV

Brooklyn’s indie scene is home to countless rising talents, and one that stands out is Connecticut-born, Brooklyn-based artist Malia DelaCruz better known as Ciao Malz . A self-taught musician and engineer, Malz has a gift for crafting indie pop songs that are both clever and unpolished in the best way. Her latest release, Safe Than Sorry, a four-track EP released in December 2024, showcases her evolving approach to songwriting and collaboration. Growing up surrounded by classic rock, folk and indie music, Malz was drawn to the art of storytelling. “I like songs that feel lived-in, a little rough around the edges but full of heart,” she tells Brooklyn Roads. The DIY nature of indie music was a revelation that made her realize that imperfections could be part of the sound. That perspective shaped her songwriting process, which she describes as intuitive and sometimes surprising, “It’s hard for me to tell where the songs are going at first, but the choruses are catchy.” After attending college in Queens, Brooklyn quickly became her creative home. “There’s always new and different music playing from cars, coffee shops, even the fish supply store,” she says. Playing alongside the borough’s talented musicians has kept her inspired and motivated. Among Brooklyn’s many venues, Union Pool holds a special place for her, for its intimate performance space. First featured on WFUV’s NY Slice in 2021 and once again on March 20, 2025 with her warm, dreamy single, “Always Be My Maybe,” Malz has played venues like Baby’s All Right, Bowery Electric and Pianos NYC. Her latest EP came together in an unexpected but organic way. While working on other artists’ music, she asked a band to stick around after a session to help flesh out some of her songs. “We were able to turn them into full songs pretty quickly,” she recalls. The experience shifted her perspective on collaboration, as she comments, “in the past, I had done everything myself, but after making that EP, I think of it differently.” Ciao Malz is an artist worth watching. For those looking for music that’s deeply personal and full of heart, she’s one to have on your radar.

... read article